Just by this, scientists can detect extraterrestrial life

New research shows that the combination of large amounts of methane and carbon dioxide will provide signs of the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

NASA experts are always trying to find evidence of life on another planet based on the information obtained by.

And a recent study by scientists at the University of Washington showed that they have found a simpler, promising way to find extraterrestrial life than just looking for oxygen.

Future telescopes (right) will observe the distant planet's atmosphere in search of proof of life.

Accordingly, Science Advances has introduced a new formula in providing life proof of a distant planet. This idea involves searching for "biosignature" for a long time.

Biosignature is a gas produced by living bacteria or animals, which can be detected in the atmosphere, including oxygen, ozone, nitrous oxide and methane.

Joshua Krissansen Totton, a doctoral researcher on Earth and Space Science, said: " It is a great plan, creating oxygen without life is very difficult. But we do not want to" eat. even if not, "even if life is common in the universe, we will have no idea if life can be easily obtained by creating oxygen. Biochemical technology in producing oxygen is complex. and can be said to be scarce ".

New research looks at the history of life formation on Earth to find the time when the atmosphere contains a gas mixture that goes out of its equilibrium to survive living organisms.

In fact, the ability to maintain life by creating large amounts of oxygen occurs only in the eighth period.

The combination of methane and carbon dioxide is an attractive sign of life.

With a closer look, the researchers determined that the combination of air would provide evidence of life: methane combined with carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) but must remove carbon monoxide. (CO).

Co-author David Catling, professor of Earth and Space Science, said: "We need to find a rich source of methane and carbon dioxide on the planet with the presence of water on its surface. It, without the presence of carbon monoxide.

Our research shows that this combination will be an attractive sign of life. Interestingly, our proposal is feasible, and may lead to historical discoveries about extraterrestrial biosphere in the not-too-distant future. "

If methane and carbon dioxide are detected at the same time, especially without gas, it is an imbalance that shows signs of life. Carbon dioxide can contain many oxygen molecules, while carbon in methane is deficient in oxygen and instead contains more hydrogen.

Think of this new combination at least feasible through future telescopes.

Krisssansen Totton said: "This is the maximum level of oxidation. It is difficult to do that through a non-biological process without the need for an intermediate process to produce carbon monoxide. For example, the a planet with volcanoes emits gas and carbon dioxide, methane - it also tends to produce carbon monoxide ".

Furthermore, carbon monoxide does not tend to build the general atmosphere of a living planet.

Carbon monoxide is a gas that can be easily absorbed by microorganisms - Krissansen said: "So if carbon monoxide is abundant, it could be a clue to find a planet with no biological system. ".

The authors agree that oxygen is a good way to find signs of life, but think that this new combination is at least feasible through future telescopes.

"Life makes methane used as a simple, popular and Earth-based metabolism that has gone through this period. It's easy to do it, more feasible than mass production. "The oxygen to maintain life. And surely we will continue to look for a new invention on online telescopes in the future."